Automatic gas-lighter.



B. F. KEITH.

AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTER.

Patented Jul 11, 1916.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 4,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

EL JH B. F. KEITH.

AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-4,1915.

1 ,1 90,295 Patented July 11, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

BFKei Z71 UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

BEN F. KEITH, OF BELTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO THOMAS S.LOVETTE, OF BELTON, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC GAS-LIGHTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BEN F. KEITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Belton, in the county of Bell and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Gas-Lighters;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automatic gas lighters, designed moreparticularly for igniting the headlights of an auto vehicle, and one ofthe principal objects of the invention is to provide a simple automaticigniter which can be readily attached to any automobile, and which willbe inexpensive to manufacture, which will be economical to maintain, andwhich will be reliable and efficient for its purpose.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages may be attained by meansof the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the pipe connections to theburners, the gas tank, the electrical connections, and the automaticigniter, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one form of gas lighter made inaccordance with this invention, Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same,Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of clamping device forholding the igniter to the burner tube, Fig. 5 is a top plan view of thesame, Fig. 6 is a side elevation, and partial section of an igniterhaving a clamp or holding device of modified form, Fig. 7 is a view inelevation taken at right angles to Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 88 of Fig. 6, Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on theline 99 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 10 is a side elevation taken at right anglesto Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a gas tankof suitable size and capacity, and 2 are the pipes leading from the tankto the burners 3 to be used in the headlights of an automobile. The pipe2 is provided with a branch 4 and a suitable valve 5 is disposed inreach of the driver at the dashboard 6. A press button 7 con nected upby the conductors a and b to the battery and to the igniter, designatedas an entirety by the letter 03. When it is desired to light up thelamps of the automobile, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916. Serial No. 6,154.

valve is turned to admit gas to the burners, and the button 7 is thenpressed to operate the igniters.

lVhile this invention is especially adapted for use on automobiles, itwill be obvious that the automatic gas lighter may be used for manyother purposes. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, the numeral 8designates the gas burner, and 9 are jet tubes which are arranged todiverge from the tube 8, and are each provided with a jet opening nearthe outer end thereof. Clamped to the burner tube 8 just below the jetbranches 9 are the porcelain insulator members 11, which are firmlyconnected to the tube 8 by bolts or binding posts 12 which extendthrough the insu lators 11 and are provided with nuts 13 for holding theconductors a and b in connection therewith. At the opposite ends of thebinding posts 12, a short length of platinum wire 14 twisted together issecured to the binding posts and held in position by means of the headsof the bolts, said platinum wire or other suitable incandescentconductor is passed over the jet opening 10 or at a position slightly toone side of said jet opening. The incandescent conductor 14 may be heldin position adjacent to the jet opening 10 by grooves 14. however,extend through the branch tubes 9 in a position at one side or in linewith the jet opening 10, thus being removed from the flame of the gasjet but being in suflicient proximity thereto to ignite the gas.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5 and 10, a rubber insulator 11 is providedhaving a central opening 15 for the burner tube 8, and two oppositelydisposed apertures 16 for the binding posts 17. Binding screws 18 extendthrough the lower ends of the posts 17 and bear against the terminals ofthe conductors a and Z), while at their upper ends binding screws 19 areutilized for securing the platinum wire 14 or other suitableincandescent conductor to the binding posts 17. It will be understoodthat the binding posts are insulated by therubber element 11.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, of the drawings, a metal clamp 20 issecured to the burner tube 8 by means of a binding screw 21, and securedat opposite sides of the clamp 20 are supporting rings 22. Mounted inthe rings 22 are metal tubes 23 having an insulating core 24. The core24 The platinum wire may,

is provided with a hole or socket for the platinum wire l l which isheld in place by means of a binding screw 25. The conductors a and b areconnected to the core 2% by means of the binding screw 26.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that various forms of clamps maybe utilized, and that the automatic gas lighter may be used for manypurposes.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as de fined in theclaims.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. In a gas igniter, the combination with a burnerhaving upwardly diverging jet tubes provided with jet openings, one ofthe tubes having an exterior groove in its upper inclined side or face,said groove being located adjacent to the jet opening of such tube, aninsulator mounted on the burner below the said tube, an incandescentresistance wire extending over the grooved Copies of this patent may beobtained tube of the burner and arranged in the groove thereof, theterminals of the resistance wire being secured to the insulator andconductors also mounted on the insulator and connected with theterminals of the resistance wire.

2. In a gas igniter, the combination with a burner, of a sectional clampof insulating material engaging the burner, binding posts located atopposite sides of the burner and connecting the sections of theinsulator or clamp, a resistance wire extending over the burner andconnected at its ends to the terminals of the binding posts at one sideof the clamp and conductors connected to the other terminals of thebinding posts and located at the opposite side of the clamp.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BEN F. KEITH.

IVitnesses 0. Low, IV. E. RYLANDER.

for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

